1951# “他必住在众弟兄的对面”象征在信仰之事上将不断有争论，但他始终是胜利者。这一点从目前的讨论中已经变得明显，而在关于以实玛利的后代的更详尽描述中，这一点将被进一步阐述，正如以下所述：
他们居住，从哈腓拉直到书珥，面对埃及，正在往亚述的道上。（他的份）落在众弟兄对面。（创世记25:18）
这段话的深层含义可以通过理解哈腓拉、书珥、埃及和亚述这几个地名的象征意义来揭示。“哈腓拉”象征关于聪明的事物，正如之前第115节所讨论的；“书珥”象征由事实性知识衍生的真理（参1928节）；“埃及”象征关于事实性知识的一切事物（参1164-1165，1186，1462节）；而“亚述”则象征理性（参119，1186节）。将这些象征意义汇总，我们可以看出“以实玛利”象征了一种特定的理性。在来生中，这种真理以多种形式被象征性地表现，总是被描绘为强大、坚固、不可动摇，以至于无法被克服。当灵思考这种真理时，他们会感受到一种恐惧，因为它的本质是不会屈服或退缩的。通过这些解释，我们可以更深入地理解“他必住在众弟兄的对面”这一描述的含义：虽然这表明其中隐藏着一个秘密，但具体是什么，至今仍是未知之谜。
1951、“他必住在众弟兄的对面”表示与信之事物的争斗将持续不断；但理性真理仍将是征服者。这从刚才的阐述清楚可知，并且这个问题在圣言以这些话论及以实玛利后代的地方会得到更充分的描述，即：
你往亚述去的时候，他们从哈腓拉住到埃及前的书珥；他与他的众弟兄作对。（创世记25:18）
这些话的内义从哈腓拉、书珥、埃及和亚述的含义明显看出来：“哈腓拉”表示与聪明有关的东西，这从前面的说明清楚可知（115节）；“书珥”表示从记忆知识或事实发展出来的真理（如前所述，1928节）；“埃及”表示与记忆知识有关的一切（1164，1165，1186，1462节）；“亚述”表示与推理有关的东西（119，1186节）。从呈现为一个概念或含义的这些名字的含义清楚看出，以实玛利代表所描述的这种理性。在来世，这种真理以各种各样的代表来呈现，但总是呈现为强劲、有力和刚硬的东西，甚至到了根本无法被抵拒的程度。灵人仅仅想到这种真理，就感到恐惧，因为它的性质就是不屈服，所以不后退。由此也可以看出“与他的众弟兄作对”表示什么。谁都能看出这段描述隐藏着一个奥秘在里面，只是它的性质至今不为人知。
Potts(1905-1910) 1951
1951. He shall dwell against the faces of all his brethren. That this signifies that there will be continual contentions about matters of faith, but that nevertheless it will be a conqueror, is evident from what has just been said; which is yet more fully described where the Word tells of the posterity of Ishmael, in these words:
They dwelt from Havilah unto Shur, that is toward the faces of Egypt, as one comes to Asshur, (his lot) fell toward the faces of all his brethren (Gen. 25:18), of which words the internal sense is evident from the signification of Havilah, Shur, Egypt, and Assyria. "Havilah" signifies that which is of intelligence (as appears from what has been shown in n. 115); "Shur" signifies truth proceeding from memory-knowledges (spoken of above, n. 1928); "Egypt," all that is of memory-knowledge (n. 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462); and "Assyria," that which belongs to reason (n. 119, 1186); from the significations of all which, when reduced into one general meaning, it is evident that by Ishmael is represented such a rational. This very kind of truth is represented in the other life in various ways, and always as what is strong, powerful, and hard; insomuch that it cannot be resisted at all. When spirits merely think of such truth, something of terror comes over them, because it is its nature not to yield, and thus not to recede; from which also we may see what is meant by "dwelling against the faces of all his brethren." Anyone may know that an arcanum lies hidden in this description, but of what nature has hitherto been unknown.
Elliott(1983-1999) 1951
1951. 'And he will dwell in opposition toa all his brothers' means incessant strife against things of faith, but rational truth will nevertheless be the conqueror. This is clear from what has just been stated, and the matter is described more fully still where the descendants of Ishmael are referred to, in these words,
They dwelt from Havilah to Shur which is opposite Egyptb as you come towards Asshur. (His lot) fell opposite all his brothers.c Gen 25:18.
The internal sense of these words is evident from the meaning of Havilah, Shur, Egypt, and Assyria. 'Havilah' means that which is connected with intelligence, as is evident from what has been shown in 115. 'Shur' means truth stemming from facts, dealt with above in 1928, 'Egypt' everything that is connected with knowledge, 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462, and 'Assyria' that which is connected with reason, 119, 1186. From the meanings of these names when used together so as to present a single concept it is clear that Ishmael represents such a rational. In the next life such truth is represented in various ways, but always as that which is strong, powerful, and hard, to such a degree that it cannot be resisted at all. The mere thought of such truth produces in spirits a sense of terror for the reason that its nature is such that it does not yield, and so does not retreat. These considerations also show what is meant by 'dwelling in opposition toa all his brothers'. Anyone may recognize that an arcanum lies within this description, but up to now the nature of it has not been known.
Latin(1748-1756) 1951
1951. Quod `contra facies omnium fratrum suorum habitabit' significet quod continuae contentiones in iis quae fidei sunt sed quod usque victor erit, constat ex illis quae nunc dicta sunt, quod adhuc plenius describitur ubi de Ismaelis posteris agitur, his verbis, Habitaverunt a Havilah usque ad Shur, quod ad fac Aegypti, qua venitur in Asshur, ad facies omnium fratrum cecidit (sors), Gen. xxv 18;quorum sensus internus paret a significatione Havilah, Shur, Aegypti et Assyriae {2}; `Havilah' significat illud quod est intelligentiae, ut patet ab illis quae ostensa n. 115: `Shur' verum {1} procedens a scientificis, qua supra n. 1928; `Aegyptus' omne quod est scientiae, n. 1164, 1165, 1186, 1462; et `Assyriae {2}' quod est rationis, n. 119, 1186; ex quorum significationibus in unum sensum redactis constat quod per `Ismaelem' tale rationale repraesentetur. Ipsum tale verum in altera vita repraesentative variis modis sistitur, et semper ut forte, validum, durum, adeo ut prorsus resisti nequeat; dum modo (t)spiritus cogitant de tali vero, obvenit quoddam terroris, ex causa quia natura ejus est ut non cedat, ita nec recedat; ex quibus etiam constare potest, quid per `habitare contra facies omnium fratrum' [significatum] sit: quisquis scire potest quod in descriptione hac arcanum lateat, sed quale, hucusque nescitum. @1 i quod sit.$ @2 Aschur.$